UPDATED:Twentieth Century Fox‘s Ice Age 4: Continental Driftdoesn’t open in the U.S. until July 13th. But the 3D toon already earned $78M from its international opening weekend. It was playing on 9,505 screens in 34 markets where it was #1 everywhere.(It was #1 from previews alone in the UK where it doesn’t officially open until July 13th.) “An absolutely extraordinary opening weekend,” a Fox exec gushed. Highlights included: industry’s biggest opening weekend ever in Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Central America, and Chile; industry’s biggest animated opening weekend ever in Norway, Sweden, Ecuador and Bolivia; biggest Fox opening weekend ever in Mexico and Brazil. This coming week, 14 new markets (19 countries) open, including Germany and Holland, followed by an additional 16 markets (29 countries) day & date with the U.S., including UK and Russia. South Korea and India release on July 26th and 27th respectively, then Italy on September 28th.

Fox is quick to note that this release has fewer than half the screens and markets of the day & date release of Ice Age 3 back in July 2009. And an even smaller percentage (less than 50%) of international market share releasing this weekend. So overall comparisons to the opening weekend of Ice Age 3 will be made on a territory by territory basis. In addition, this late June opening weekend puts many of days outside of summer school holidays in France, Belgium, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, etc. Results include:

Mexico: On Thursday it opened #1 in the market with 71% of share for the 2nd highest opening day ever for Fox (behind IA3 which opened on a holiday Friday). Cume to date is $13.7M from 2,516 screens. This is Fox’s biggest opening weekend ever, and the industry’s 3rd highest opening ever. Pic had 72% market share.

France: On Wednesday it opened #1 in the market. Best opening day of 2012 and 2nd best animated opening day ever after Ice Age 3. Cume to date is $11.8M from 1,072 screens. Debut had 3D about 55% of the total. This was the biggest industry opening weekend of 2012, better than Avengers.

Australia: On Thursday, it opened #1 in the market with cume to date of $2.3M including Queensland previews. This weekend school holidays are in 90% of the Australian market. Cume to date $6.4M from 580 screens for #1 and 83% of Ice Age 3, which opened during nationwide school holidays.Argentina: On Thursday, it opened #1 in the market with 62% share for the biggest opening day for a Fox film on a non-holiday. Cume to date $4.0M from 284 screens for #1 and the industry’s biggest opening weekend ever for 61% market share.

Spain: #1 with cume to date of $4.0M from 829 screens and 45% market share. “Excellent start in spite of Euro Cup Final today, which is greatly affecting Sunday business,” a Fox exec notes.

Colombia: On Thursday, it scored Fox’s biggest paid previews for 1st place in the market. Cume to date is $3.2M from 296 screens for #1 and the industry’s biggest opening weekend ever.

Peru: On Thursday it opened #1 in the market with 84% share for the biggest opening day ever for Fox, and the 2nd highest opening day ever industry wide (behind Transformers 3 which opened on a holiday), and the biggest opening day ever for an animated film. Cume to date is $3.0M from 252 screens for #1 and the industry’s biggest opening weekend ever.

Central America:Ice Age 4 made $186K on Thursday and was #1 ever for a family title; #1 opening day of all time in Nicaragua; #1 Thursday ever in Guatemala; #1 in all markets with over 70% market share. Cume to date is $2.1M for #1 from 252 screens and industry’s biggest opening weekend ever.

Chile: On Thursday, it opened #1 in the market with 71% share. Cume to date is $2.0M for #1 from 135 screens and the industry’s biggest opening weekend ever.

Sweden: On Wednesday it was #1 in the market for the best animated opening day of all time. Cume to date is $2.0M from 201 screens for #1 and the industry’s biggest animated opening weekend ever for 54% market share.

Norway: $2.4M from 250 screens for #1Turkey: $1.3M/407 for #1United Arab Emirates: $1.2M/72 and #1Belgium: $1.0M/160 for #1 and 2nd highest opening of 2012Czech/Slovakia: $868K/135 and #1Portugal: $867K/142 and #1Denmark: $834K/200 for #1 and 126% of Ice Age 3‘s openingEcuador: $830K/89 for #1 and industry’s biggest animated opening weekend everFinland: $781K/190 and #1South Africa: $587K/104 and #1New Zealand: $486K/169 and #1Switzerland: $474K/45 and #1 in the French regionIsrael: $406K/60 and #1Bolivia: $346K/23 and #1Kuwait: $321K/13 and #1Uruguay: $172K/23 and #1.

PREVIOUS: Twentieth Century Fox’s Ice Age 4: Continental Drift earned $11M from Wednesday and Thursday openings among only 12 of the 37 international markets releasing this weekend with #1 openings. Highlights included biggest industry animated opening day of all-time in Sweden and Peru; 2nd highest industry animated opening day of all-time in France, Colombia, Argentina and Chile; and Fox’s biggest animated opening day ever in Central America. Overall, it’s opening on about 8,500 screens, including 4,200 3D screens, this weekend. Fox won’t release full numbers until Sunday. But this foreign release includes 5 of the Top 12 markets like Australia, Brazil, France, Mexico and Spain.

Another 14 markets (19 countries) open next week, including Germany and Holland, followed by another 16 markets (35 countries) day & date with the U.S. release, including the UK and Russia. After that, 4 markets will release in late July including Korea, followed by Italy in late September.